Post by 2.7182818284590...The intro for this song is in 5/4 time signature, which means that
there are 5 quarter notes per measure for the intro. The chords for
the intro are simple, and they are as follows: Gm - F - Dm - C
and Gm - F - Dm - C - Am7 .
Q1: If the song were *doubled* in speed, the notes would no longer be
in quarter notes, but they'd be in eight notes. Is this true/
false? I would think that the song is definitely in 8th time (8 is
in the denominator of the time signature).
If the tempo were doubled, they would still be quarter notes. If the
rhythms were played faster because of diminution, then they would be
8th notes.
The decision of 5/4 or 5/8 would be based upon the basic underlying
pulse and/or the whim of the composer. (just as some funky rhythms are
written in 16th notes when 8th notes in "alla breve" would be more
appropriate and accurate)
Post by 2.7182818284590...Q2: How do you figure that there are 5 quarter notes per measure?
The number of pulses is the proper term rather than "quarter notes"
here. There would be 5 pulses in a measure. With that thinking, you
would listen to the music and if the common denominator of the
recurring pulses of the melody and/or the harmony and/or any other
rhythmic activity going on at the same time repeats itself in groups
of 5, then the top number of the time signature would be 5. The basic
concept is that the first beat or pulse of each measure is stronger
and you are dividing the music into groups of strong recurring
patterns.
The bottom number only defines what note symbol is being used to
represent the basic pulse or beat of the music. 5/4 has five pulses
that are called quarter notes. 5/8 has five pulses that are called
eight notes. In a simple rhythmic score, they are interchangeable and
can not be known which is which unless you saw the written music. They
would be only two different ways of saying the same thing.
In some music, (not this example) you can have two concepts going on
at the same time. In a signature of 6/8 for example. You would think
that there would be 6 pulses in the music and there could be and
usually would be in slow 6/8 music. But in faster tempos, it is
usually two pulses in the measure coming on 1 and 4. Since we don't
have a numeric symbol for three eighth notes we use 6/8 out of
convention for what some composers (Bartok for example) that would use
the numeral 2 for the top number and the "dotted quarter note" symbol
for the bottom 'figure'. This is to show that it is different from a
measure of three pulses of a quarter note, written as 3/4. This
measure also has 6 eight notes, but the grouping is 2+2+2 instead of
3+3 in the 6/8 measure. Similarly, in changing meters you will
sometimes see the groupings notated as the top number to further make
clear the meter. i.e. 2+3 over 8 or 3+2 over 8 (or over 4 if it were
in 5/4) This is all an aside from your question only to serve as food
for thought that might help you to understand the nature of time
signatures (see below)
Post by 2.7182818284590...There is something very fundamental that I'm not understanding with
time signatures.
It seems so. If you think of it like this it might help (and with the
example above):
The top number (or symbols) tells you how many beats in the measure
(or pulses in the group of notes)
The bottom number (or symbol) defines the pulse.
Tempo has nothing to do with it. At 100 beats per minute an 8th note
is the same length as a quarter note at 50 beats per minute. Tempo is
totally separate from Meter. Meter is defined by time signatures.
Tempo is defined in words or symbolically as a written note = a number
of beats per minute) i.e.
(symbol for quarter note) = 120 bpm
If you need additional information or explanation, just ask.
LJS
Post by 2.7182818284590...I recognize, as a guitar player, that the *chorus* of this song has a
strange rhythm. It's slightly "off-beat" for me to play music in
[D] [D] [C] [C] [G/B] [G/B] [Bb] [C], and if you listen
closely, there seems to be *9* beats per measure. What do you think?
I think it has been covered by others.